Budapest, Hungary

Two days before the Republic of Hungary joined the European Union in 2004, the Budapest city council revoked Stalin's 1947 honorary citizenship, granted in recognition of his liberation of Hungary from the Germans at the end of World War II.

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(Available only as a 16x24 limited edition print in Lustre Finish. Contact Gary Ricketts for more information.)
In 1873, the cities of Buda, and Pest united to become Budapest. The Danube river separated the two until the construction of the Chain Bridge in 1849.
Modernization of Budapest, on an unprecedented scale, began in 1896, including Europe’s first subway system. The resulting concentration of capital and workforce brought intellectual and economic prosperity.
Unfortunately, the 20th Century was not so kind to the city, and much of its former beauty is in need of serious repair.

A most unusual sight sits on the traffic island at the Buda end of the Liberty Bridge in Budapest, Hungary. The dilapidated bicycle, with missing seat and both wheels mangled, is securely held in place by a locked heavy chain!
One can only imagine how such a sight came to be. Perhaps it is "art", or could it be the owner and bicycle were in an accident at this spot and will someday return to claim and restore it?
Whatever the story, the happy face keeps smiling.

On October 23, 1956, thousands of people took to the streets of Budapest to protest one party rule established by the Soviet Union. The statue of Stalin was pulled down, and a new leader appointed. The Soviet Union responded with military force, killing thousands of people, arresting thousands more, and thus forcefully ending the revolution.
In May, 2004—just two days before the Republic of Hungary joined the European Union—the Budapest city council revoked Stalin's 1947 honorary citizenship, granted in recognition of his liberation of Hungary from the Germans at the end of World War II.

Budapest's trolley/tram system of lines is numbered from 1 to 69, with gaps in the numbering system due to the closing of lines over the years.
There are thirty lines carrying 370 thousand people per year on the main radial and riverside routes on both sides of the Danube and several of the bridges. Tram tickets are validated by using the punch machines on board the trolley. To exit at a stop, a button on the door must be pushed, or the door will not open.

Szentendre, a town of arts and museums, is north of Budapest on the bank of the Danube River. Szentendre was first inhabited in the New Stone Age. It has since been home to Illyrians, the Celtic Eraviscus tribe, Romans, Lombards, Avars and, Hungarians. In the 17th Century, Serbian settlers came to the town and gave Szentendre its characteristic, Mediterranean-style architecture.
Since the early 20th century, Szentendre has been home to several generations of Hungarian artists.

Szentendre, a town of arts and museums, is north of Budapest on the bank of the Danube River. Szentendre was first inhabited in the New Stone Age. It has since been home to Illyrians, the Celtic Eraviscus tribe, Romans, Lombards, Avars and, Hungarians. In the 17th Century, Serbian settlers came to the town and gave Szentendre its characteristic, Mediterranean-style architecture.
Since the early 20th century, Szentendre has been home to several generations of Hungarian artists.

Budapest's trolley/tram system of lines is numbered from 1 to 69, with gaps in the numbering system due to the closing of lines over the years.
There are thirty lines carrying 370 thousand people per year on the main radial and riverside routes on both sides of the Danube and several of the bridges. Tram tickets are validated by using the punch machines on board the trolley. To exit at a stop, a button on the door must be pushed, or the door will not open.

On October 23, 1956, thousands of people took to the streets of Budapest to protest one party rule established by the Soviet Union. The statue of Stalin was pulled down, and a new leader appointed. The Soviet Union responded with military force, killing thousands of people, arresting thousands more, and thus forcefully ending the revolution.
Two days before the Republic of Hungary joined the European Union in 2004, the Budapest city council revoked Stalin's 1947 honorary citizenship, granted in recognition of his liberation of Hungary from the Germans at the end of World War II.

This cave on Gellert Hill was originally home to Saint Istvan, a hermit monk who cured the sick with thermal waters that flowed in front of the cave.
In 1926, the cave was expanded and the Cave Church founded. During the 1930’s, the Archbishop of Kaloca enlarged the cave further to hold more worshippers, using the grotto at Lourdes as a model.
In 1951, the Communist secret police arrested all of the Pauline monks, and the superior, Ferenc Vezer, was condemned to death. The other monks received prison sentences of five to ten years. The church was sealed with a seven foot thick concrete wall, and stood hidden and silent for nearly forty years.
When Communism fell in 1989, the Cave Church was returned to the Paulite order, and immediately reopened.

(Available only as a 16x24 limited edition print in Lustre Finish. Contact Gary Ricketts for more information.)
In 1873, the cities of Buda, and Pest united to become Budapest. The Danube river separated the two until the construction of the Chain Bridge in 1849.
Modernization of Budapest, on an unprecedented scale, began in 1896, including Europe’s first subway system. The resulting concentration of capital and workforce brought intellectual and economic prosperity.
Unfortunately, the 20th Century was not so kind to the city, and much of its former beauty is in need of serious repair.

The bridge was opened in 1896 during the Millennium celebrations by Emperor Franz Joseph. The Emperor personally hammered the last silver nail into the iron structure on the Pest side. The bridge was named Franz Joseph in his honor.
On January 16, 1945, the retreating German Wehrmacht attempted to destroy the bridge, but only damaged the central section of the bridge. It was the first Budapest bridge reconstructed. It reopened for traffic on August 20, 1946 as the renamed Liberty Bridge.
This photograph is received an Honorable Mention in a photo contest sponsored by the New York Intstitute of Photography.

The Royal Palace is located on the top of Castle Hill, providing a panoramic view of Budapest. King Bela IV (1235-1270), built a fortress on the hill to protect the people and to warn Buda if a Mongol invasion approached.
During WW II, the castle was occupied by the German military as base of Eastern Europe operations. Upon their retreat, it provided a fortress of defense against the Soviet red armies as they advanced toward Germany.

The Royal Palace is located on the top of Castle Hill, providing a panoramic view of Budapest. King Bela IV (1235-1270), built a fortress on the hill to protect the people and to warn Buda if a Mongol invasion approached.
During WW II, the castle was occupied by the German military as base of Eastern Europe operations. Upon their retreat, it provided a fortress of defense against the Soviet red armies as they advanced toward Germany.

The bridge spanning the Danube was opened in 1896 during the Millennium celebrations by Emperor Franz Joseph. The Emperor personally hammered the last silver nail into the iron structure on the Pest side. The bridge was named Franz Joseph in his honor.
On January 16, 1945, the retreating German Wehrmacht attempted to destroy the bridge, but only damaged the central section of the bridge. It was the first Budapest bridge reconstructed. It reopened for traffic on August 20, 1946 as the renamed Liberty Bridge.

On October 23, 1956, thousands of people took to the streets of Budapest to protest one party rule established by the Soviet Union. The statue of Stalin was pulled down, and a new leader appointed. The Soviet Union responded with military force, killing thousands of people, arresting thousands more, and thus forcefully ending the revolution.
In May, 2004—just two days before the Republic of Hungary joined the European Union—the Budapest city council revoked Stalin's 1947 honorary citizenship, granted in recognition of his liberation of Hungary from the Germans at the end of World War II.

Budapest's trolley/tram system of lines is numbered from 1 to 69, with gaps in the numbering system due to the closing of lines over the years.
There are thirty lines carrying 370 thousand people per year on the main radial and riverside routes on both sides of the Danube and several of the bridges. Tram tickets are validated by using the punch machines on board the trolley. To exit at a stop, a button on the door must be pushed, or the door will not open.

Erected between 1756 and 1764, this Hungarian Baroque cathedral with one tower contains several outstanding artistic items of significant value. There is a large icon dating from 1777-81, a gilded pulpit carved of lime wood and a canopied bishop's throne.